Absolut Hydrogen

What Absolut Hydrogen does

Absolut Hydrogen is a French engineering company founded in 2021 as a spin-off of Absolut System, specializing in liquid hydrogen (LH2) equipment and turnkey engineering solutions for mobility and energy transport applications. Headquartered in Eybens, in the Grenoble metropolitan area (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), the company operates as a SASU under the diversified Groupe Absolut. Its addressable customers span heavy-duty transport operators, aviation and aerospace players (aircraft, VTOLs, drones), hydrogen refueling station (HRS) developers, warehouse and logistics operators running LH2 forklifts, and industrial firms seeking to decarbonize operations that are difficult to electrify with batteries.

The product portfolio covers the full LH2 value chain. Liquefaction equipment includes the LIQHYD50 unit (10–50 kg/day), a mobile liquefier (10–100 kg/day) for distributed deployment, and a fixed decentralized liquefier (1 T/day) intended for on-site green hydrogen production when coupled with electrolyzers and renewable electricity. LH2 storage tanks use state-of-the-art thermal insulation and zero boil-off management systems derived from space-mission cryogenic technology, with stated boil-off losses below 0.1% during storage and transfer. The company also supplies LH2 pumps for cryogenic tank filling without upstream pressurization, thermodynamic compression systems (patent pending) that dispense gaseous hydrogen at 350 and 700 bar without mechanical high-pressure compressors, and integrated on-board thermal management for LH2-powered trucks, aircraft, VTOLs, and drones.

Revenue is generated primarily through project-based hardware sales—liquefiers, storage tanks, and refueling systems—supplemented by engineering and consulting services spanning feasibility studies, technology selection, installation, risk management, and operational support. The company sells direct to enterprise clients through consultative, project-based engagement, with public pricing undisclosed and engagements quote-based. It leverages its position within the Absolut Group ecosystem (sister company Absolut System as technology provider; sister company Absolut Sensing in GHG monitoring; shareholder Vol-V in renewable energies) and participates in the EquipEX DurabilitHY research platform funded by ANR under the France 2030 plan.

Name

Absolut Hydrogen

Legal name

Absolut Hydrogen

Website

https://absolut-hydrogen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Absolut Hydrogen is a French engineering firm that designs liquid hydrogen liquefiers, zero boil-off storage tanks, thermodynamic-compression refueling systems, and on-board thermal management for heavy-duty transport, aviation, and hydrogen infrastructure operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Liquid Hydrogen Equipment

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Storage & Cryogenic Tank Systems (EUAFAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydrogen Storage EPC, Engineering & Construction (Aboveground/Underground Facilities) (EUAFAEAK), Hydrogen Storage Terminals, Depots & Bulk Logistics (Siting, Loading/Unloading) (EUAFAEAI), Hydrogen Storage Safety, Monitoring & Integrity (Leak Detection, Sensors, Inspection) (EUAFAEAJ), Cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen Storage for Power-to-X Hubs (LH2 Tanks, Boil-off Mgmt) (EUAFAFAG)

Keywords

• Liquid hydrogen equipment
• Hydrogen liquefaction systems
• Cryogenic storage tanks
• Hydrogen refueling systems
• Hydrogen mobility solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Eybens

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hydrogen Liquefier Sales (Mobile and Decentralized): Sale of hydrogen liquefaction equipment including mobile LIQHYD50 (10-100 kg/day) and decentralized 1T/day liquefiers. Equipment sold with complementary systems (LH2 storage, chiller, transfer lines, instrumentations). Revenue is project-based, one-time for equipment sale with potential service contracts.
2. LH2 Storage Tank Sales and Custom Design: Custom-designed liquid hydrogen storage tanks for on-ground and on-board applications. Includes zero boil-off systems, thermal management, sensors, and safety equipment. Project-based equipment sales with engineering customization.
3. H2 Refueling Systems: Supply of liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-gas refueling systems including LH2 pumps and thermodynamic compression units for hydrogen refueling stations. Equipment sales for infrastructure deployments.
4. Engineering and Consulting Services: Turnkey engineering services for hydrogen supply chain definition including process definition, component selection, supply specifications, operational procedures, installation, risk management, and continuous improvement. Full lifecycle services from feasibility studies through deployment and operational support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Absolut Hydrogen designs, manufactures, and integrates liquid hydrogen (LH2) equipment and engineering solutions for mobility and energy transport applications. The portfolio includes hydrogen liquefiers (mobile and decentralized), LH2 cryogenic storage tanks with zero boil-off management, hydrogen refueling systems (liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-gas thermodynamic compression), and on-board thermal management systems. The company also delivers turnkey engineering, consulting, installation, and risk management services to support hydrogen supply chain projects for transport, aviation, and industrial clients.

Product overview

Absolut Hydrogen is a French engineering and industrial company specializing in liquid hydrogen (LH2) technologies for the mobility sector. The company offers a portfolio of integrated products and engineering services centered on liquid hydrogen infrastructure. Core products include the LIQHYD50 Liquefier (10-50 kg/day), Mobile Liquefier (10-100 kg/day), and Decentralized Liquefier (1T/day) for hydrogen liquefaction; LH2 Storage Tanks with zero boil-off management; H2 Refueling Systems for both liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-gas applications; and On-Board Thermal Management systems for vehicles. These products are complemented by engineering services including Consulting, Technology Services, and Installation & Risk Management. The company leverages cryogenic expertise from parent company Absolut System to provide complete, customized solutions from R&D to deployment for hydrogen-powered transport applications across trucks, aviation, logistics, and industrial sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LIQHYD50 Mobile Hydrogen Liquefier A mobile hydrogen liquefier with production capacity from 10 to 100 kg/day, designed to provide high-density standardized liquid hydrogen at any location. Limits boil-off and losses during transport stops, and is adapted for intensive transport applications including aircraft, ships, trucks, and forklifts.
• Decentralized LH2 Liquefier A fixed decentralized hydrogen liquefier with capacity from 1 tonne per day, adaptable to hard-to-reach areas. Designed for on-site green hydrogen production when coupled with electrolyzers and renewable electricity (solar/wind), reducing OPEX at fossil fuel price points.
• LH2 Storage Tanks Liquid hydrogen storage tanks using state-of-the-art materials and next-generation thermal insulation, with zero boil-off management systems to limit LH2 losses in tanks and during transfer. Adapted for both on-ground stationary and on-board vehicle applications, reducing boil-off losses to below 0.1% during storage and transfer.
• H2 Refueling Systems (Liquid-to-Liquid) Liquid hydrogen pump-based refueling systems that perform cryogenic tank filling without upstream tank pressurization. Maintains the upstream tank at low pressure while preserving the thermohydraulic state of liquid hydrogen in the application tank.
• H2 Refueling Systems (Liquid-to-Gas Thermodynamic Compression) Innovative thermodynamic compression system for gaseous hydrogen refueling stations that eliminates the need for expensive high-pressure compressors. Adapts to 350 and 700 bar refueling standards, reducing CAPEX/OPEX and scaling without limitations of current compressor capacity.
• On-Board Thermal Management Systems Integrated on-board cryogenic systems for hydrogen vehicles that optimize synergy between LH2 warming for energy use and cooling of integrated electronics. Includes custom-designed heat exchangers and internal hydrogen circuits for compact environments such as trucks, VTOLs, drones, and aircraft.
• Hydrogen Engineering and Consulting Services Turnkey engineering services covering the full hydrogen supply chain including feasibility studies, process definition, component selection, supply specifications, operational procedures, installation, risk management, and continuous improvement for hydrogen infrastructure projects.
• Reliquefaction System Reliquefaction system integrated into LH2 storage tanks to reduce gaseous hydrogen losses. Complements zero boil-off management for complete loss prevention in storage and distribution operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• LH2 density of approximately 70 kg/m3 at low pressure (vs. 42 kg/m3 for GH2 at 700 bar)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toulouse INP and Laplace LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolut Group, through its subsidiaries Absolut System and Absolut Hydrogen, was selected to supply a LIQHYD50 hydrogen liquefier along with complementary equipment (LH2 storage, chiller, transfer line, and specific instrumentation) to Toulouse INP and the Laplace laboratory. The project is part of the EquipEX DurabilitHY initiative, funded by ANR under the France 2030 plan, with participation from CNRS and several universities, to advance hydrogen-energy research technologies.
• Absolut SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationAbsolut System is the parent/sister company and expert in cryogenic systems. It developed and supplies key technologies used by Absolut Hydrogen, including liquid hydrogen pumps, reliquefaction systems, and core cryogenic engineering expertise. Absolut Hydrogen is a spin-off of Absolut System.
• CNRS and Multiple UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and several universities participate in the EquipEX DurabilitHY initiative alongside Absolut Group subsidiaries, advancing research in hydrogen-energy technologies.
• Absolut SensingminorOthersAbsolut Sensing is a sister company under Absolut Group, specializing in greenhouse gas monitoring, data analysis, and planetary understanding. Part of the broader Absolut Group ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Nel ASA: Norwegian hydrogen technology company with electrolyzers and refueling station solutions. Adjacent competition for HRS deployments; partial overlap on hydrogen infrastructure but Nel lacks Absolut Hydrogen's focus on LH2/cryogenic specialization.
• McPhy Energy: French hydrogen company specializing in alkaline electrolyzers and hydrogen refueling stations. Comparable regional French presence and hydrogen infrastructure focus, although focused on gaseous rather than liquid hydrogen.
• ITM Power: UK-based PEM electrolyzer and hydrogen refueling station supplier. Comparable as a hydrogen infrastructure equipment vendor competing for European HRS and mobility decarbonization contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Plug Power: US hydrogen fuel cell and turnkey hydrogen solutions provider including on-site production, liquefaction, and refueling for logistics customers. Comparable as an integrated hydrogen ecosystem player, particularly in forklift and heavy mobility segments.
• Air Liquide: Global industrial gas major with substantial LH2 production, distribution, and refueling infrastructure across Europe. Operates HRS networks and hydrogen mobility programs that overlap with Absolut Hydrogen's target segments.
• Linde Engineering: Engineering arm of Linde plc, building large-scale LH2 plants, hydrogen liquefiers, and turnkey hydrogen infrastructure globally. Competes with Absolut Hydrogen on full hydrogen supply chain projects, particularly for large industrial and mobility customers.
• Air Products: World's largest liquid hydrogen producer with global liquefaction capacity and established LH2 logistics for aerospace and mobility. Directly comparable on LH2 liquefaction, storage, and supply-chain engineering.

Others

• Haskel International: Manufacturer of high-pressure gas compressors and boosters widely used in hydrogen refueling stations. Adjacent competitor where Absolut Hydrogen's thermodynamic compression claims would displace traditional high-pressure compressor systems.

Direct peers

• Chart Industries: Global leader in cryogenic equipment manufacturing, including LH2 storage tanks, liquefiers, and distribution systems. Directly competes with Absolut Hydrogen on the cryogenic LH2 hardware stack (liquefaction, storage, transfer) for industrial and mobility hydrogen applications.
• Cryostar (subsidiary of EBARA): Designer and manufacturer of cryogenic pumps and LH2 turbomachinery for hydrogen mobility and industrial gas. Direct peer on liquid hydrogen pumps, transfer systems, and cryogenic fluid handling central to Absolut Hydrogen's product suite.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/absolut-hydrogen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Absolut Hydrogen